The upper two floors of the Zen temple Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), located in northern Kyoto, are entirely coated with gold leaf. Originally called Rokuonji, the temple served as Ashikaga Yoshimitsu's retirement residence. Following his death in 1408, the shogun left it as a Zen temple belonging to the Rinzai sect. Ashikaga Yoshimasa, the grandson of Yoshimitsu, erected Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion) on the opposite side of the city a few decades after seeing Kinkakuji. The only remaining building from Yoshimitsu's former retirement community is Kinkakuji, an elegant temple erected overlooking a big pond. Throughout its history, it has burned down multiple times, twice during the Onin War, a civil war that devastated a great deal of

A significant Shinto shrine located in southern Kyoto is called Fushimi Inari Shrine (Fushimi Inari Taisha). It is well-known for the thousands of red torii gates that cross a system of paths that run behind the major structures. The paths lead into the forested area of the holy Mount Inari, which is located on the shrine grounds and rises to a height of 233 metres. Of the thousands of shrines devoted to Inari, the Shinto god of rice, Fushimi Inari is the most significant. Since foxes are believed to be Inari's messengers, there are numerous fox statues scattered across the shrine grounds. The history of Fushimi Inari Shrine dates back to a time before Kyoto became the capital in 794. While exploring the mountain paths is the main reason most international visitors come to Fushimi Inari Shrine, the

One of Japan's best-known temples is Kiyomizudera, which translates to "Pure Water Temple". It got its name from the pristine waters of the Otowa Waterfall, which is located on the forested hillsides east of Kyoto, where it was established in 780. The temple established the Kita Hosso sect in 1965 after first being connected to the Hosso sect, one of the oldest schools of Japanese Buddhism. The temple was included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. The most notable feature of Kiyomizudera is its wooden stage, which protrudes 13 metres over the surrounding hillside from the main hall. Visitors can enjoy a pleasant view of the many cherry and maple trees below, which burst into a sea of colour, from the stage.

Gion, the best-known geisha area in Kyoto, is situated along Shijo Avenue between the Kamo River to the west and Yasaka Shrine to the east. Shops, restaurants, and ochaya (teahouses) abound, offering entertainment by geiko (Kyoto's dialect for geisha) and maiko (geiko apprentices). Gion's significant concentration of classic wooden machiya merchant houses draws tourists. The homes were constructed with slender facades that are only five to six metres wide but extend up to twenty metres in from the street because property taxes were previously determined by street frontage. Hanami-koji Street, which runs from Shijo Avenue to Kenninji Temple, is the busiest section of Gion. The street and its side alleyways are lined with beautiful, lovely, and pricey places to eat.

Sanjusangendo Sanj sangend is the prevalent title for Rengeo in, a sanctuary in eastern Kyoto which is celebrated for its 1001 statues of Kannon, the goddess of leniency . The sanctuary was established in 1164 and modified a century afterwards after the first structure had been devastated in a fire. Measuring 120 metres, the sanctuary lobby is Japan s longest wooden structure. The title Sanjusangendo truly 33 interims determines from the number of interims between the building s back columns, a conventional strategy of measuring the size of a building.

Ginkakuji Silver Structure may be a Zen sanctuary along Kyoto s eastern mountains Higashiyama . In 1482, shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa built his retirement estate on the grounds of today s sanctuary , modelling it after Kinkakuji Brilliant Structure , his grandfather s retirement estate at the base of Kyoto s northern mountains Kitayama . The estate was changed over into a Zen sanctuary after Yoshimasa s passing in 1490. As the retirement estate of an craftsmanship fixated shogun, Ginkakuji got to be a centre of modern culture, known as the Higashiyama Culture in differentiate to the Kitayama Culture of his grandfather s times. Not at all like the Kitayama Culture, which remained restricted to the highborn circles of Kyoto, the Higashiyama Culture had a wide affect on the whole nation . The expressions created and refined amid the time incorporate the tea ceremony, bloom course of action , noh theatre, verse , cultivate plan and design.

Nishiki Market (Nishiki Ichiba) is a narrow, five block long shopping street lined by more than one hundred shops and restaurants. Known as "Kyoto's Kitchen", this lively retail market specialises in all things food related, like fresh seafood, produce, knives and cookware, and is a great place to find seasonal foods and Kyoto specialities, such as Japanese sweets, pickles, dried seafood and sushi. Nishiki Market has a pleasant but busy atmosphere that is inviting to those who want to explore the variety of culinary delights that Kyoto is famous for. The stores found throughout the market range in size from small narrow stalls to larger two storey shops. Most specialise in a particular type of food, and almost everything sold at the market is locally produced and procured.

The Kyoto Imperial Palace (Kyōto Gosho) used to be the residence of Japan's Imperial Family until 1868, when the emperor and capital were moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. It is located in the spacious Kyoto Imperial Park (Kyōto Gyoen), an attractive park in the centre of the city that also encompasses the Sento Imperial Palace and a few other attractions. The current Imperial Palace was reconstructed in 1855 after it had burnt down and moved around town repeatedly over the centuries. The complex is enclosed by long walls and consists of several gates, halls and gardens. The enthronement ceremonies of Emperors Taisho and Showa were still held in the palace's main hall. Tokyo Imperial Palace is now used for enthronement ceremonies.